A few month’s ago I wrote about ignoring my ideal target client profile and the resulting angst that ensued. I am happy to share that I learned from that experience and had the pleasure of saying no to a potential new client last week. Ah, the joy of saying no!
The reality is I still could have done better and made the decision sooner. That is why I am writing this blog as perhaps others could benefit from this recent experience, too.
A dear friend introduces me to this prospective client. She has been a dear friend for years and I was intrigued with the sector and the value proposition that this company had to offer. I knew For Marketing Matters (FMM) could help them get a solid foundation in place and build awareness and a solid pipeline for them. An initial phone conversation happens; I follow-up and follow-up and struggle to get commitment for a meeting. The CEO conveys how important marketing is to him, but is so busy with other priorities (initial hint that I ignored). Finally get a face to face meeting. Many other stakeholders in the room. Good discussion. Many head nodders agreeing with my proposed approach and methodology. CEO emphasizes sense of urgency and requests proposal to get started. Proposal prepared and initial feedback from other top stakeholders is favorable. Follow up and radio silence – for weeks. Then the week before Christmas, CEO must have a meeting with me – can not wait. So I shuffle schedule around, we meet in person and during the discussion there are all kinds of red flags flying (big hints, but I persevere). I think after the meeting: I can overcome that. I can work with that. So I jump through hoops to get proposal written and turned around to client in one business day and guess what happens? You know this story – nothing. Radio silence again for two plus weeks.
A light goes on with me. I come out of my fog and realize: This is not my ideal client. In fact, this is not even close to being a client that I am going to enjoy working with. The only item in the PRO column to go after this business is that I would have the opportunity to work and help my dear friend. The CON column is long with all kinds of good reasons to ditch the work. The fog has cleared. I stop the silliness and let the prospective client know that I will not be moving forward to provide marketing services because it is not a good fit and it not set up for success – his or mine.
Boy did that feel good. I did what was right for me and For Marketing Matters and I know I did what was right for his company. He was not committed to making the investments in the right areas that needed attention. I shared the story with my business coach. As always, she provided such incredible insight and commented, you have given him a gift. Huh? That thought had never crossed my mind. She went on to explain that this decision is one of many points of feedback that he is likely getting. There is a chance that over time he may connect the dots and realize he needs to change how he is leading the company and where he is investing in expertise. His head of sales and head of business development (partner channel) both had recommended he accept my initial proposal. He ignored their advice and instead chose the dabbler approach: work on marketing tactics only and ignore the need for a strong marketing foundation. If that business approach was literally the physical structure of the business today, the physical building would likely fall n the face of Juno, our raging blizzard.
My key learning and the point of this blog today: use your target profile to evaluate potential clients; listen to your gut when it tells you to run; thank your friend for the introduction (in this case she was fully supportive and understanding why I was not going to move forward) and be true to who you are and the value of the services you offer. If others don’t value it, that is ok. There are many who do and it is so much more enjoyable to work with those that are wise to invest in marketing expertise (in my case) and value the real impact it has on growing their business and driving real value. Just say no. It feels really good.